[hjoseph7]

Thank you, I needed that...

[climbmountainway]

The problem I am told from the group who keeps our lenses CLA here in Colorado, is that unless dealing with vintage gear with available used parts, Pentax offers repair services no parts (unlike other manufacturers). Many such services would do Pentax digital repairs if camera and lens parts, other than from such parted out gear on ebay, were Pentax in a repair parts warehousing, cataloguing, and supplying business to keep its system concept up and running.

[OrchidJulie]

The problem I am told from the group who keeps our lenses CLA here in Colorado, is that unless dealing with vintage gear with available used parts, Pentax offers repair services no parts (unlike other manufacturers). Many such services would do Pentax digital repairs if camera and lens parts, other than from such parted out gear on ebay, were Pentax in a repair parts warehousing, cataloguing, and supplying business to keep its system concept up and running.

I don't know that that is entirely true, I recently took my Kr into the shop (Southern Photo Technical, above) and they were able to repair it, with parts ordered from Pentax.

[Adam]

Pentax doesn't sell parts to consumers (in the US), but I'd be surprised if repair shops didn't have access.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

[OrchidJulie]

Pentax doesn't sell parts to consumers (in the US), but I'd be surprised if repair shops didn't have access.

I had no trouble with the shop, they assured me they were "authorized" and could order parts. It would never occur to me to try to order them myself, I may be reasonably handy about some things, but camera repair isn't on that list!

[markduq]

This is a growing list of Pentax repair/service providers. Feel free to post any additions!

Australia

• CRKennedy (Authorized to perform warranty service)
• F16 Camera Service (DSLR and lens service, Brisbane)
• Camera Check Point (Film cameras and lenses, NSW)
• Vintech Camera Repair (Melbourne)
• Nagami Camera Service (Melbourne, film cameras)

Canada

• PhotoTec Services, St John's, Newfoundland (Vintage cameras and lenses)
• Service Camera Pro (Film and digital, Quebec)
• Sun Camera Service, Ontario (Authorized to perform warranty service) [PDF repair form] [Info from Ricoh Imaging]
• Zone 7 (Quebec)
• VanCam (Vancouver)
• Computech Camera Repair (Winnipeg)
• Camera Repair Centre (Nova Scotia)
  

Central America

• Dima (Costa Rica)

France

• PM2S (Authorized to perform warranty service - must contact dealer first)
• PHOX
• Nikken Techno France (Authorized to perform warranty service - must contact dealer first)

Germany / Austria

• Rüdiger Maerz GmbH, Hamburg
• KAMERAZEIT e.K., Lübeck (Authorized to perform warranty service)
• Host photoservice, Bönningstedt
• Foto Olbrich, Görlitz (Manual lenses only)

Greece

• Inlens (Authorized to perform warranty service)

Hungary

• Camera Kft

India

• K Prabhakar Group - Camera Repair Specialist - Mumbai (Authorized to perform warranty service)

Lithuania

• Vilbrafoto (Authorized to perform warranty service)

Latvia

• Baltijas Servisa Centrs (Authorized to perform warranty service)

Poland

• Foto Naprawa (film cameras)
• Opto-Technika, Warsaw (Authorized to perform warranty service)
• Rüdiger Maerz GmbH, Hamburg (can also be used for warranty service)

Portugal

• Reflecta (Authorized to perform warranty service)

Japan

• Hasegawa Kosakusho (Film camera repairs)

Spain

• FOKUS Reparaciones (Madrid)
• Reflecta (Authorized to perform warranty service)

Netherlands

• PM2S (Authorized to perform warranty service)

New Zealand

• Ian R Little (Christchurch) (Authorized to perform warranty service)
• CW Services (Timaru)

Norway

• Camera.no
• Fovi AS (Oslo/Bergen, film & digital cameras)

Singapore

• apds (Authorized to perform warranty service)

South Africa

• Radiolens
• Cameratek (Authorized to perform warranty service)

Sweden

• Kameraservice (Authorized to perform warranty service for all of Scandinavia)

Switzerland

• Jäger AG, Bremgarten (Authorized to perform warranty service)

Vietnam

• Tixiai (Authorized to perform warranty service)

UK

• John Pye Technical (Authorized to perform warranty service)
• Johnsons Photopia Ltd (Ceased operations. Former authorized service center)
• Harrow Technical (Film cameras and lenses) (back in business)
• Luton Camera Repair Services Ltd. (can service digital)
• A.M. Technical Services (London area, can service digital)
• GRES (Surrey, 645 and more)
• Don Clark Camera Repairs Ltd (Gloucestershire)
• Asahi Photo (Middlesex, film and digital)

US

• KEH.com (GA, Most current and vintage gear)
• Eric Hendrickson (Vintage cameras, Current and vintage lenses)
• Precision Camera (Authorized to perform warranty service, NC)
  
• Advance Camera (Most current and vintage gear, Portland, OR)
• General Camera Repair (LA, CA)
• Garry's Camera Repair (IL, select film SLRs)
• International Camera Repair (LA, CA)
• Halcyon Cameras | Vintage Camera Restoration (Vintage film cameras, San Diego, CA)
• Camera Repair Japan (Services Sigma lenses and more, Atlanta, GA)
• Allied Camera (MN, manual film cameras)
• Bill Rogers Camera (LV, NV, film-era cameras and lenses)
• Phototronic (Topeka, KS, film and digital camera repair)
• Lezot's Camera Center (VT, film SLRs / medium format)

It troubles me that there is only one place in the US to get a "warranty" repair. There was a great place here in Arizona that used to do Pentax repairs. I spoke to them last month.
They can't repair Pentax cameras because Pentax will not sell them any parts. Precision Camera is very expensive. This may be an illegal tying arrangement.

[Adam]

It troubles me that there is only one place in the US to get a "warranty" repair. There was a great place here in Arizona that used to do Pentax repairs. I spoke to them last month.
They can't repair Pentax cameras because Pentax will not sell them any parts. Precision Camera is very expensive. This may be an illegal tying arrangement.

CRIS stopped being the official service center when Precision took over, unfortunately. I don't think there's anything illegal about it, but more options are always nice (also, there are other non-warranty repair shops that can source parts, but there are some things only Precision can handle).

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

[markduq]

Basically, I think it is an anti-trust violation. Pentax is restricting where repairs can be performed. It is a restraint on trade.

[texandrews]

Basically, I think it is an anti-trust violation. Pentax is restricting where repairs can be performed. It is a restraint on trade.

Is that actually true? Especially for warranty repairs? Not that I don't think that Pentax should open things up more....

[markduq]

Warranty repairs can only be made at shop in Connecticut. It is over $300.00 for them to just at your camera as I recall.

[Mikesul]

They had the same arrangement with CRIS. They do not charge for warranty repairs. I believe Sony has a similar arrangement with Precision. Ricoh does not prevent others from doing repairs, they just only sell parts to Precision. I doubt if the courts would find it a restraint of trade. There may be case law if someone wants to take the time to research it. I do not like the situation either but I do not have the time to fuss with it.

[texandrews]

They had the same arrangement with CRIS. They do not charge for warranty repairs. I believe Sony has a similar arrangement with Precision. Ricoh does not prevent others from doing repairs, they just only sell parts to Precision. I doubt if the courts would find it a restraint of trade. There may be case law if someone wants to take the time to research it. I do not like the situation either but I do not have the time to fuss with it.

I feel this is a glaring problem with Ricoh/Pentax---the lack of/tightness of support and repairs. After the Z came out it was a hot topic on the medium format forums. Less so now, but it's still very problematic. It must change. Either it needs to be cheaper by a lot, or it needs to be drop-dead first class and speedy, with loaners. Then you could justify the high prices.

Warranty repairs can only be made at shop in Connecticut. It is over $300.00 for them to just at your camera as I recall.

That would be Precision----which on and off has their issues. Their charges for "Just looking " are indeed outrageous. KEH I understand can do some repairs, and I think there are some specialists around for legacy stuff.

[markduq]

I feel this is a glaring problem with Ricoh/Pentax---the lack of/tightness of support and repairs. After the Z came out it was a hot topic on the medium format forums. Less so now, but it's still very problematic. It must change. Either it needs to be cheaper by a lot, or it needs to be drop-dead first class and speedy, with loaners. Then you could justify the high prices.

That would be Precision----which on and off has their issues. Their charges for "Just looking " are indeed outrageous. KEH I understand can do some repairs, and I think there are some specialists around for legacy stuff.

I contacted KEH and they are really great people! I sent them my K 1 and they couldn't get the
parts to repair it. KEH will return your camera if they can't fix it and they pay the shipping cost.
I highly recommend KEH. Precision has a complete monopoly on Pentax repair in the US.
That isn't fair. Precision can charge whatever they want because there is no competition. I believe
what Pentax has done violates federal antitrust laws as it is a restraint on trade.

[OrchidJulie]

Precision has a complete monopoly on Pentax repair in the US.

Maybe true for warranty repair, but I recently had my Kr repaired at Southern Technical Photo in North Miami, no problem getting parts.

[markduq]

Good to know. K-1's are the problem